Anastasia Koldareva, also known as Elly, is a Russian artist and author of Mermaid's Legends, Dragon Tales and When Dragons Dream colouring books as well as some fantasy novels. She creates her original fairy and dragon character artworks using ink pens, markers, coloured pencils and watercolours, finding inspiration in Slavic and Celtic mythologies, surrounding nature and the underwater world.
How long have you been illustrating and what made you start?
I have been drawing as long as I remember myself. When I was a kid I drew toys I played with, then my favourite cartoon characters and after a while my own characters appear in my drawings.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Well, it seems my inspiration comes from three sources. The first is a sea - a huge world of the most beautiful underwater seascapes and amazing animals. The nature in all surroundings and it`s creatures of all sorts. You would not deny that lizards look like dragons, would you? And the third source I would say it is a Slavic mythology with its mermaids and enchanted forests.
Where is your favourite place to illustrate?
I draw at home surrounded by cozy feel of my favourite things.
What are your illustrating/colouring material essentials?
Till recently it was coloured pencils and watercolours, but about month ago I discovered for myself pleasure of working with alcohol markers and for now it is my favourite medium to work with. They got huge potential to create eye catching colour effects.
What’s the piece of work that you’re most proud of or enjoyed doing the most?
My most proud work would be my last colouring book When Dragons Dream and my forth one I am working on right now. I am working on creating my own unique stile and think every new book comes better then previous one. And for now the most pleasure I get working with markers.
What I can suggest is to take to consideration reasonable critique to master your skills, but most important never forget that the goal is to receive pleasure, which comes with your hobby and enjoy colouring!
